• Women as bitches and how we got here – Rosemary MacCabe

    March 7, 2018 - By 

    “Women are awful bitches, aren’t they?” It’s an often-heard phrase, especially when discussing blogger-focused forums – which I do, pretty often. As a sporadic blogger and one-time “social influencer” (a term that means, essentially, that I’ll take money to promote products online, which may be distasteful but honestly, wouldn’t you?), I have a vested interest in said forums – not just because they occasionally talk about me, but also because it’s an industry from which I think I will never be entirely removed. What’s that they say? Once a media shill, always a media shill. It’s a fast-moving world online.…

  • In Between Days – Transitions with Keeley Moss

    March 7, 2018 - By 

    I can think of no bigger honour than being asked to contribute an article for International Women’s Day because not only is it a cause that I wholeheartedly support but in the wider world there are still some people who refuse to accept me for who I am. This I know because my own band just split up for that reason. But more on that later. I’m legally a woman, and my birth certificate states that I’m female. I’m also trans. I began transitioning as a desperate necessity when I found I could no longer live another day suppressing my…

  • What does it mean to win? – MayKay on Repeal the 8th

    March 7, 2018 - By 

    What does it mean to win? Do we all know? Do we all agree? Have we all challenged ourselves to question what it is that we want to personally achieve here? Do we want to be the loudest? Do we want to have the last word? Or, do we want to repeal the 8th amendment? I am not of course talking about the many resilient, brave, inspirational women who have trudged through the mud for our right to choose for longer than we know. I am not talking about the amazing women who have joined them over the past few…

  • Smells Like Team Spirit: Roller Derby Ireland

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    Roller Derby has long evolved from fishnet tights and elbows in the face to a well respected fast paced game of endurance, skill, strength and smarts. Barbara Robinson and Oonagh ‘Mauler’ O’Flaherty of Team Ireland share their experiences fresh off the track from the roller derby World Cup in Manchester. Photos by Sara Marsden. Barbara Robinson When I joined the Belfast roller derby team 7 years ago it was just for a fun new way to keep fit and learn how to skate. Before roller derby, I was very shy and had very little confidence. I had no idea how…

  • Triona Farrell – Colouring Outside the Lines

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    Growing up, I was enamoured by nerd culture. From video-games to comic books, my hobbies were diverse and engaging. This culture was primarily a male dominated space however. From the comic book fan that sneered at me for wanting to get into Batman, to the many micro-aggressions down through the years, I learned that my gender was on the fringes, a minority in a larger ‘boy’s club’. In Ireland, the nerd culture was sparse, but I still felt it from young men who hid behind social awkwardness, or sleazily attempted to get uncomfortably close. I was closely involved in this…

  • Same Story, Different Tune: Mná na hÉireann’s Place in the Global Music Scene

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    In 1989, American audiences were formally introduced to Sinead O’ Connor. To the opening chords of ‘Mandinka’ the 21-year-old from Glenageary strode confidently across the gaping stage of the 31st Annual Grammy Awards; completely alone, briefly wiping her hand across her mouth and gazing out into the darkened crowd, unfazed. Torn jeans and Dr. Martens, she cut a striking image of unconventional female beauty, strength and unmatched musicianship. Sidestepping and shuffling unperturbed across the stage and ultimately the threshold of global success, O’ Connor at this time appeared to bookmark the redefinition of what it meant to be an Irish…

  • Autonomy: A book about taking our selves back

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    What is bodily autonomy? What does it feel like when it’s taken away? This is a women-led collection of stories, poems, memoirs, essays and more exploring what it means to have bodily autonomy. Read it if you don’t understand why no-one should ever be forced to stay pregnant against their will. Read it if you do understand, and would like to be part of the change. I’ve been attending pro-choice street stalls for years now.  It’s changed so much: I’m hardly ever verbally abused any more, people want to know how they can help.  But there are still too many…

  • Tipping the Scales – Supporting the Work of Women in the Music Industry with Sinead Furlong of MNÁSOME

    March 7, 2018 - By 

    Name five current, prominent Irish acts – prominent, as in acts that have reached international acclaim, who are touring the world with platinum selling albums. Who are the first five names that bubble up in your mind when you think of prominent Irish musicians? Take a minute to think before reading ahead… How many of the names that came to mind were women or involved women as part of the act? I know when I think of current multi platinum, world touring, prominent Irish musicians, the first names that automatically come to mind are mainly male acts. This imbalance in…

  • Ink for Thought: Female Tattoo Artists of The North Unite

    March 7, 2018 - By 

    Our photographer Sara Marsden meets up with five strong Northern Irish female Tattoo artists to take their portraits and allow them to discuss their work and goals in their own words. I got my first tattoo in July 2014; an outline of an anchor on my right ankle. Highly original, I know, but I was in love with all things nautical for some reason and it just felt right. I had always been obsessed with tattoos and itching for the day I would get one. Since then my skin has become more and more adorned with artwork, and I have…

  • It’s Not Always About Your Fanny – Aoife Dooley on Gender in Comedy

    March 7, 2018 - By 

    People always say to me ‘it must be very difficult being a woman in comedy in this day and age’ why? because I have a fanny? The short answer is, for me, it doesn’t make a difference. Growing up in Coolock I used to hang out with a group of lads. We played football, kick the can, manhunt, the lot. I was always involved in sport and other activities with both sexes and if anyone told me otherwise, i’d stick it to them. I’ve always had this outlook throughout my life and never let someone tell me I couldn’t do…